Welcome to the Web White & Blue Rolling Cyber Debate. The first online presidential debate in our history, the Rolling Cyber Debate features daily exchanges among the presidential campaigns and responses to questions submitted by Internet users.

The exchanges have two parts: a Message of the Day from the campaign and a response to a Question of the Day submitted by an Internet user. Responses can take any form (video, audio, text, or links to a candidate's website), and are not limited in length. Each campaign is permitted a rebuttal to their opponent's message of the day and question of the day responses.

The Rolling Cyber Debate runs from October 1 through Election Day (November 7). Updates occur every 30 minutes Monday through Friday between 12:00 noon and 9:00 pm ET, and Sundays between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. Archives of previous day's exchanges are also available.

Who's behind Web White & Blue?

Sponsored by the Markle Foundation, Web White & Blue is a non-partisan and non-profit consortium of 17 of the largest Internet sites and news organizations that have come together to highlight the potential of the Internet to expand citizen participation in our democracy.

The Rolling Cyber Debate is being carried in its entirety each day on each of the 17 sites on the Web White & Blue Network. These sites reach more than 85% of the US Internet audience, or nearly 70 million Americans each month. And Web White & Blue can be found one click away from thousands more participating sites.

How will the presidential candidates participate in this debate?

The Rolling Cyber Debate format allows the candidates to participate directly or to designate surrogates to respond depending on the subject matter. Responses may take the form of video, audio, text or links to a website. This format has been designed with the flexibility to enable each campaign to explore the capabilities of this new medium, and each campaign has the ability to design their responses according to their own strategy.

How did Web White & Blue decide which candidates could participate?

Web White & Blue invited all candidates who, by September 15, 2000, had qualified on enough state ballots to have a mathematical possibility of winning a majority in the Electoral College to participate in the Rolling Cyber Debate. Candidates were given placement on the pages based on their average standing in several nationally recognized public opinion polls as of September 15, 2000.

How are questions chosen?

Questions for the Question of the Day are submitted by Internet users through each of the 17 sites on the Web White & Blue Network in chat rooms and other online forums. Questions are reviewed and selected by Web White & Blue Editor Peter Orvetti with the supervision of the editors of each of the 17 Web White & Blue charter sites and consistent with the Web White & Blue editorial policy.

Is Web White & Blue part of the Commission on Presidential Debates?

The Rolling Cyber Debate is intended to serve as a complement to the traditional televised presidential debates by enabling the campaigns to continue the discussion online. Web White & Blue is not directly affiliated with the Commission on Presidential Debates.

How can I ask a question of the campaigns?

If you would like to ask a question and can't find a link on the site you are visiting, click here